One of my most memorable liturgical 'moments' was at Mass for/with the local Catholic primary school in about 1973 - when Ascension Day was still correctly celebrated on its Thursday. The well-prepared child duly read 'All people, clap your hands' with acclamation, and the entire congregation, led by the infants' classes in the front, spontaneously obeyed the psalmist's instructions.

I sometimes - too often - despair at priests, readers and musicians who don't look or sound as if they mean what they are saying/singing. No wonder congregational responses are - too often - half-hearted.

Very apt, and a good link to Gareth Malone's work too! Too many people are put off singing by a single comment somewhere in their childhood. Regarding the hand-clapping: the setting of the psalm chosen should reflect the sentiment of the psalm. Often a bland refrain with psalm-tone verses, while getting the psalm sung (as opposed to said), does very little to inspire people to worship joyfully. I think we Northern Europeans might be very timid in our actual hand-clapping, but might still feel it in our souls if the setting was joyful enough. And of course, as Fr Gareth preached upon, we need to be singing, writing and praying new settings of these ancient texts so that they always feel refreshing and keep us on our toes!